Method and apparatus for emulating web browser proxies

• US 8,166,141 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van Horne, Edwin James III
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Kyung H
• Application Number:
  US09/906,632
• Time in Patent Office: 3,935 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709/223, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A user device disposed on a local area network (LAN) requests a proxy auto-configuration file from a first proxy server. Where the first proxy server is not present on the LAN, a second proxy server on the LAN intercepts the request and responds to it by causing a replacement proxy auto-configuration file to be sent to the user device. The user device utilizes the replacement proxy auto-configuration file to configure itself to utilize the second proxy server on the LAN.

Claims

1. A method for emulating a request from a user device to a second device for a proxy auto configuration file, the user device configured to request the proxy auto configuration file from a first device, the method comprising:

intercepting packets from the user device;

identifying packets relating to a request for the proxy auto configuration file from the first device;

causing a replacement proxy auto-configuration file to be available, said replacement proxy auto-configuration file locally accessible from said second device; and

serving said replacement proxy auto-configuration file to the user device in response to said identifying.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said causing further comprises redirecting the request for the proxy auto-configuration file to request said replacement proxy auto-configuration file.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said causing further comprises rewriting the packets for the request for the proxy auto-configuration file to request said replacement proxy auto-configuration file.

4. An apparatus for emulating a request from a user device to a second device for a proxy auto-configuration file, the user device configured to request the proxy auto-configuration file from a first device, the apparatus comprising:

means for intercepting packets from the user device;

means for identifying packets relating to a request for the proxy auto configuration file from the first device;

means for causing a replacement proxy auto-configuration file to be available, said replacement proxy auto-configuration file locally accessible from said second device; and

means for serving said replacement proxy auto-configuration file to the user device in response to said identifying.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means for causing further comprises means for redirecting the request for the proxy auto-configuration file to request said replacement proxy auto-configuration file.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means for causing further comprises means for rewriting the packets for the request for the proxy auto-configuration file to request said replacement proxy auto-configuration file.

7. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the machine to perform a method for emulating a request from a user device to a second device for a proxy auto configuration file, the user device configured to request the proxy auto configuration file from a first device, the method comprising:

intercepting packets from the user device;

identifying packets relating to a request for the proxy auto configuration file from the first device;

causing a replacement proxy auto-configuration file to be available, said replacement proxy auto-configuration file locally accessible from said second device; and

serving said replacement proxy auto-configuration file to the user device in response to said identifying.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said causing further comprises redirecting the request for the proxy auto-configuration file to request said replacement proxy auto-configuration file.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said causing further comprises rewriting the packets for the request for the proxy auto-configuration file to request said replacement proxy auto-configuration file.

10. An apparatus for emulating a request from a user device to a second device for a proxy auto-configuration file, the user device configured to request the proxy auto-configuration file from a first device, the apparatus comprising:

an internal interface for intercepting packets from the user device;

a driver for identifying packets relating to a request for the proxy auto configuration file from the first device;

a server for causing a replacement proxy auto-configuration file to be available, said replacement proxy auto-configuration file locally available from said second device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a TCP/IP protocol stack disposed between said driver and said server.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an external interface disposed between said TCP/IP protocol stack and at least one remote server.